Ford Expected To Hire Hundreds At Local Plant

WAYNE (WWJ) – Ford and the United Auto Workers have apparently tentatively agreed to a plan where the automaker would hire more than 400 workers.

Ford could be hiring hundreds of people at its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne to do work supporting production of the new Focus. These would be entry-level jobs at the second tier wage, or half the regular pay. The Detroit Free Press reports the company sent Local 900 a letter committing to bring back jobs. However, Ford isn’t confirming the paper’s reports that this is all a part of the local contract reached at the plant last year. Ford does say if there is any new hiring, the roughly 100 people still on lay-off would get first shot at any new positions.

The Free Press says the workers, who’ll earn a starting wage of about $15-50 an hour, could wind up doing parts assembly and packaging work. WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert says hiring is expected to be a big focus of discussion in the upcoming national contract talks.